Aisling Ruby • 8 • Sligo

8-11 Category   •  2026
Artist Statement Title: Robin in a Nest My name is Aisling Ruby Mulderrig, age 8… nearly nine. I chose the robin because I have been observing robins in Grandad’s birdhouse for ages, since I was two or three. My auntie told me I should do ‘This is Art’ and it got me thinking well, wouldn’t a bird’s nest be nice. At First, I thought about drawing a nest and making a 3D bird but then I thought Why not a real nest? So, I went to my Granny’s house, and she gave me an oasis. I got loads of materials from my Grandad’s back garden in Mayo and near his house. I got rushes, grass, twigs, mistletoe, palms, fern, and little sticks. We brought all the materials home to Sligo. We had a circular oasis, and we made a base by crisscrossing the rushes. We used loads of the materials we gathered and stuck them into the oasis, it was so squelchy and squishy. I collected bark and crusty leaves too. Stuck it all in. Then we bought clay in Mr. Price. I cut out a big lump and made it into a ball, nice and smooth. I pinched out tiny little feet, nice and slowly and then pinched out a big, fat head. Then I squished out a tail and a beak and rolled two eyes. I got a toothbrush and smoothed it down. so it looked like a bird. I use a tool to mark the tail and feathers. I let it dry for five days. Then I got my acrylic paints out. Orange, yellow, grey, brown and black. I started off by painting the back, the feathers and the tail. I got the orange and painted his head and breast. Then I got the yellow and mixed it gradually down so it became lighter. I painted his belly grey and black for the feet, beak and eyes. Now my bird looks amazing. I feel so proud.